Sprinkler head



E. TYDEN SPRINKLER HEAD Nov. 20, 1.945.

' Filed July 14, 1944,.

TOR.

Patented Nov. 20, 1945 vUNITED STATES PATENT olf-Tice associe :SPRINKLER 'ElilTyem Hastings,Mch. Application July 121., 1944, seri-annu. is'fifiissz' 12` Claims. (cnice-,srl

'This invention 4relates vto `sprinkler heads ldesigned for Vuse in a Iiire `extinguishinglsystem and one object 'of the invention 'is to 4provide 'a 'new and improved sprinkler 'head which avoids certain objections to the 'type'sheretofore employed. The usual practice has lbeen to mount sprinkler Ylieaclsso 'that they extendedfsome distance "below the'ce'iling of .the room, but 'in some cases., par- '.ticularly where indirect .lighting was'emp'loyed, `'the ,projecting sprinkler heads tended to cause unsightly s'hadowson lthe ceiling. They'have also -been considered objectionable where special attention was paid .to the finish and decoration of wallsurfaces, as, -for example, .in stores and .olice buildings,

.It is therefore an .object of .the invention Lto provide a sprinkler head of relatively simple .construction .adapted .to lbeY installed with its .lower end substantially flush with the ceiling of the room,

A further object of the invention is toprovidea. iiush mounted sprinkler head having a spreader or water -deflecting .device which is automati- .in connection with -the drawing in which:

Fig. il is a vertical sectional view .taken .axially through the housing fof asprinklerlheadcembodying this invention tand showing .the parts :in .nor- 'mal position -with the walve closed 'and with ithe spreader carried at its "inoperative position :above the iplane `of the ceiling. y

fFig. I2 isasimilar sectional view f-showing ithe parts las disposed fin the initial fstageof operation, `with the fusible velement f disengaged and with the valve opened by the breaking-of the frangible -rod which normally holds it in closedposition. I

Fig. vl3 `is another sectional'view'ta'ken gsimilarly to Figs. `l. and `2 'andshow'ing the'nextstep in the operation'whereby `the 'spreader has been `released to be lowered by the water `pressure -to its operative position.

Fig. 4.is`also a sectional view atthe sameplane as the .other 'views showing the 'spreader 'fully lowered to loperative position, with "the sprinkler head 1inopeiation. y

"While *there Avis shown and 4described jherein certain 'specific structure `embodyingl .the `inventiofn,"it^wil1be manifes'titoithose skilled 'rnthe aft that various modiiications and lre-arrangements oi'th'e parts may'beina'de witnoutdeparting'zfrom the A'spirit *and scope 'of' the linvention and "that the same `is not Alimited 'to the .particular form herein l'shown and described exceptas indicated 'by -the appended claims.

Fig i indicates 'azfra'gmfent oftheceiling 'ofthe room at il, andshowsthe cylindrical housing -.2 of the sprinkler head :provided with 'a fc'ap f3 which includes Ja nipple portion 4 -i'lhi'eaded f or "attach- Tnent to asupplyjpipe. The nipple 4 is aiiially located 'with .respect fto .the Tvbody '2 so that the enA tire tting 'may 'beeasily deta'ohed :or remount'ed when occasion requires. At the "lower v-end the housing includes 'sa 'terminal flange ^5 which may be non-circular outline or which :may `-include lugs engageable "by a special :socket wrench "for screwing 'the head in .place or ,removing Fit, requires a A'clearance"space Gto be formed A'in the ceiling around `tlieflower end `of the housing I"i, and to :avoid 'the possibility of ia Ihre :spreadingv into the space between 'the 'ceiling and the neiit oorths clearance 6 isnormallyclosedby an an-4 nular member "l of br'e orsimilar material Secured to the end ofthe housing Zby 'sirialllsorew's The 1water Ysupply 'passage formed Aby "the 'nipple 4 terminates 'in .a valve Jse'at is V'which ismormany yclosed 'by a valve vmember im having astem lil connected to the valve 'by a 'baIlJand-socket joint 'at fi2 to insure proper seating 'of thevalve. The stem zlfl i'sslidabl'y mounted Lin ajguideplug T3 having ia 'depending yoke Ill and la set screw T5 aligned 'with the 'valve "stem ll. A rang'ibleirod lfd 4of 'glass 'or like "material Vis interposed .between the 'set screw 'l 'and "the stem 'l I, and the .ser screw *is adjusted so 'that the .rod .l.6 serve toholdftnevaiverom seatefpositicn.

trip mechanism iis .supported in 1a case 10 which 'is .detachably engaged with Ithe lower pon tion of 'the housing 2 .and which supports -externallya fusible element shown as .afangedcap 21| telescopen within asleeve l22 and linterengaged therewithlbysmalllmetallicballs 2-3.: Theseiparts are Lheldin .connected relatonby(ammqofrtusible material, .such as .soldei;,lat 2.4 linterposed vdecimi-Heil the ange -of .the .cap 21| land thesurtaoesof :the

sleeve 22 and incidentally holding the 'balls #23 lace- Wlile 'thus positioned., the sans :ze .messi .pressure nf ta spring z5 which .reacts against.

plunger 26 having a stem 21 engaging the cap 2|. Upon a rise of temperature, as in the case of re conditions in the space adjacent the sprinkler head, the fusible material at 24 is melted, releasing the balls 23 and permitting the pressure of the spring 25 to force the cap 2l out of the sleeve 22. In the resulting movement the plunger 25 engages the lower end of a lever arm which is fulcrumeq at 3|; qnthe yoke 14. This swings the short uppeb end-320i the levragainst the frangible rdd"16`;' causing itto break, as""sh'0wn in Fig.

2, and permitting the valve l 0 to` descend to open position.

ply pipe flows through the nipple 4, ,filling the space in the cap 3 of the housing 2 4and owing Y,will be preferable to remove the entire sprinkler 'head so that it may be reconditioned and inspected As the Valve I0 opens, the water from the'supnected therewith inside the housing 2. This cyl-e inder serves as a guide for a frame or yoke '4l wlj1'ic|l1 -carries,the spreader ordeflector 42 at its lower end. The upper portion of the frame 4| is sliojgvn as a sleeve 43 through vwhich ,the water o downwardly within the cylinder while the Y portionbf the 'frame comprises similarly a pa.I yofnarrowarmsM and a at cross-bar 45 whichfdoesfnotl reduce the capacity of the' cylinder Las a iiow passage belowthe capacity of the sleeve`43. As theA Water pressure strikes the spreader 'disk 42 it depresses'the hook lever 46 whichis normally upheld' against the'lower end ofthe carrier frame 4l byfa spring 41, and such depression of the lever 46 vreleases its catch arm 48 'from vthe upwardly facing shoulder 5a of th'e flange 5. This'allows the'entire ltrip mechanism initfs lc'aseZ to. swing downwardly, as shown in Fig.' 3,'"so that presently its'hook '49 also' becomes disengaged'lifrom the shoulder`5a of the 'flange 5 atfthe opposite side of 'th'e'housing" 2, and the trip mechanism with its case- 20 falls away from the housing. VvThis 'complete'detachment of the trip mechanism is practically assured by the descent ofthe `spreader1x2 ander impact of theV water ,flirtingjtnrimghk the cylineerjw. To linut .the descent.` of thespreader 42 latta, proper` distance Uelw th'ceilng vl forjcrrect Operatinof the sprinkier'headfuie s1eeveportion'4a ofthe carrieframfl hasfa shoulder 413a which engages tlij" inturneujnnge; neef the' cylinder fmrr at" the lower'endf 4tlfelattr, "as seen in Fig. fl.

"'Withth parts this `'position the'sprinkler head continues tooperatefor distributingwatei' to"a predetermined space 'below'it until the fire has' been extinguished 'and the` water 'supply has been shut oij` Thereaften'the' cover 'disk 1 is removed by 'releasing the screws 81,- andY a.,v 'special wrenchor'tool is appliedtofthe'iiange 5 ofthe housing V'for unscrewing the entire sprinkler head at the nipple 4; allows the yValve I0 t0 be reset in closed' position by the provision of a new frangible rod I6. V"At'lthe same-time, anew or reconditioned trip mechanism will be supplied, witli'itsl plunger 26 locked' in `retracted position by a cap 21j secured in the sleeve 22 by fusible r`naterialj24.'A Such a-tripmechanislnis readily applied""to th'eilower "end ofthe/housing 2 by engaging-its hook 4S with 'the flange 5B' 'and thenswinging the case 2ll'upwardlytoforce'the catch 48"past the inclined face 51" ofthe flange 5 until4 thespring 41 nallythro'ws the catch' into holding/engagement with'ljthe shoulder 5a, as

shown-1inJ Figjl; This 'replacement'of the trip mechanism, of course, raises the spreader 42 to its. upper position, Yas 'sh'own'in-Fig.- 1,' and closes the housingiZ,v leavingonly the trip mechanism' cas'ej depending belowftheplane ofthe ceiling I.' This before being placed in service; but the construction is such that if it is installed in a location remote from the factory or service station it can be put back into service without delay incident to factory inspection. If it is considered desirable to inspect the valve l0 itself before replacing `the sprinkler head in service this can be done whether the housing 2 is left in position or is disconnected from the supply pipe by unscrewing its'n'ippleV 4 therefrom. The valve is attached toits stem Il and the stem is slidably engaged in the guide plug I3 which forms a rportion of the lower wall of the horizontal part of the iiow passage. The guide plug I3 is threaded so that it may be unscrewed from the cap portion 3 of the housing and when thus unscrewed it brings with it the valve IIJ and its stem Il. If the valve khas become unreliable for anyreason it can be readily replaced before the plug I3 is screwed back into position. The plug includes as an integral portion the depending yoke I4 which supports the set screw l5 and fuicrurns the lever 30, but, obviously, the plug vI3 must be replaced inV position before the frangible rod i6 can be replaced and the valve adjusted to seating position by means of the set screwl 5.

As indicated, the trip mechanism case is constructed of'non-metallic material, such'as a plastic or libre composition, which is a poor conductor of heat, so that Whenthe temperature of the air surroundingthe casef20 rises to a danger'- ous degree the heat will not beconducted away to the metallic housing 2 by the casing 20,but will remain availablefto affect the fusible material at 24 so astorinsure prompt release of! the plunger-25 and opening of the valve ID. Y Y

Iclaim as my invention: -Y f l 1. A- sprinklerl head lfor a re extinguishing system,l comprising a housing' with its -lower y end disposed substantially liush with a ceiling, a closure for saidlower end -of the housing releasably secured thereto, a downwardly open flow'pa'ssage within the housing,.a valve controlling saidpas sage,a .fusible element carriedl by saidlclosure, means whereby. the valve ,-is opened upon fusing. of said element, admitting water to the iiow passage. aspreader disposedgadjacent the lower end of ythe flowy passage in position to be forced downwardly by the fiow,of1water,.means actu,- ated by the downward movement of the spreader tovrelease said closure, and means arresting said spreader at a suitable distance below Athe plane of the ceilingfor performing its spreading function. 1 Y

2. A' sprinkler head for s are extinguishing system, comprising a housing with itslower end disposed substantially flush with a ceiling, a closurev for said lower endof the housing releasably secured'thereto, a downwardly vopenlic'wv passage Within the housing, a valve controlling'said pas# fran'gible member'holding the valv'e seated,`means including a stressed spring arranged. toibreakftl-ie fraugibleYelementY upon release off' saidspring, said riisile elem-ent holding' the springst-ressedand. releasing it when whereby the valve is opened admitting water to the flow passage, a spreader disposed adjacent' the lower endl of the' How' passage position' to be forced downwardly bjtheiow of water, means'actuate'd by theI downward movement` ofi' the spreader torelease said 'closure and means arresting said spreader at`4 a wardly from said valve seat. a spreader carriedv a at the lower endy of' said flow passage by means which` is slidable in saidl passage, a closure for the lower end` of the4 housing, a fusible element carried by said closure; means whereby the valve isVv opened upon' fusing of said elementadmittingv water tov said flow-` passage, saldi closureV including" means upholding the spreader,. and. a spring catch retaining said closure ori-.the housing, together with means operable by the: pressure of the water against the spreader to release said catch and the closure, permitting the spreader to descend to a position below the plane of the ceiling, and meansto" arrest theV spreader ata predetermined position.

4. A sprinkler head for a fire'extinguishing system, comprising a housing disposed with its lower end substantially flush with a ceiling, said housing having a nipple at its upper end for connection to a supply pipe and formed with a valve seat within the housing, a valve seated thereon, a ow passage within the housing leading downwardly from said valve seat, said flow passage including a laterally leading portion directly below said valve seat, the valve having a depending stem, a guide plug removably screwed into the wall of said passage opposite the valve seat and having a guide bore for said valve stem, said plug including a depending support with a set screw adjustable therein and a frangible member interposed between the set screw and the valve stem holding the valve in' seated position, means including a fusible element at the lower end of the housing operable upon the fusing of said element to break the frangible member, thereby releasing the valve, and a spreader normally carried within the housing at the lower end of said flow passage with holding means for the spreader which is released by the pressure of water admitted to the passage, whereby the spreader is lowered to an operative position below the plane of the ceiling.

5. A sprinkler head for a iire extinguishing system, comprising a housing positioned with its lower end substantially hush with a ceiling, a flow passage within said housing, a normally closed valve controlling said passage, means including a fusible element and operable upon fusing of said element to open the valve, a spreader disposed normally within the housing, and holding means independent of said fusible element retaining said spreader withinthe housing but releasable by the force of water admitted to the flow passage upon opening of said valve to allow the spreader to descend to its operative position below the plane of the ceiling.

6.- A sprinkler head for` al nre extinguishing system, comprising-- al housing with its: lower :end disposed-f substantially flush with a ceiling, a elo# sure' for saidl lower endof the housing releasably secured thereto, al downwardly open1 flow. passage within the housing, a valve. controlling said passage, a fusible element carried by said closure in an exposed position below theV plane of' the` ceiling, means whereby the valve. is opened upon fusing of said element, admitting waterftov` the flow passage, a spreader disposed'v adjacent the lower end ofi the flow passage in position to be forceddownwardly'by theviiow of water, means actuated by the downward movement ot the;

i spreader to release said closure, amd meansar'n resting saldi spreader ata suitable distance be low the plane of the ceiling for performingits; spreading function.-

'7. A sprinkler head for a fire. extinguishing,

; system, comprising a housing with. its lower' end disposed substantially flush with. a ceiling, a elo-- sure for said lower end of the housing releasably' secured thereto, a downwardly open. flow passage within the housing, a valvecontrolling said' passage, a fusible element carried by said'.

' closure, the closure being formed of non-me.-

talli'c material. which isla relatively poor conduc tor of! heat, means whereby the valve is openedV upon fusing of said element, admitting waterl to* the flow passage, a spreader disposed. adjacent the lowerw endA of;v the; flow passage in'` position to be forced: downwardly by the. flow of water, means actuated by the downwardmovement of the spreader to release said' closure, and. means. arresting said spreader at a suitable distance below the plane of the ceiling for performing its spreading function.

. said passage, a fusible element carried by said closure, a frangible member holding the valve seated, a plunger carried by said closure, a spring reacting against said plunger and held compressed by the fusible element, the fusing of said element releasing said spring and plunger, means operable by said plunger when released to break the frangible element, whereby the valve is opened, admitting water to the flow passage, a spreader disposed adjacent the lower end of the flow passage in position to be forced downwardly by the flow of water, means actuated by the downward movement of the spreader to release said closure, and means arresting said spreader ata suitable `distance below the plane of the ceiling for performing its spreading function.

9. A sprinkler head for a re extinguishing system, comprising a housing with its lower end disposed substantially flush with a ceiling, a closure for said lower end of the housing releasably secured thereto, a downwardly open flow passage Within the housing, a valve controlling said passage, a fusible element carried by said closure, a frangible member holding the valve seated, a plunger carried by said closure, a spring reacting against said plunger and held compressed by the fusible element, the fusing of said element releasing said spring and plunger, a lever iulcrumed between its ends with one end adjacent the frangible element and the other end positioned for actuation by the plunger, whereby release of the plunger causes the lever to break the Vfrangible element, permitting the valve to open `and toadmit water to the ow passage, a spreader disposed adjacent the lower end of the ow passage in position :to `be forced downwardly bythe flow of water, means actuated by the downward movement of the spreader to release said closure, and means arresting said spreader ata suitable distance below the plane of the ceiling for performing its spreading function. Y

10. A sprinkler ,head for a fire extinguishing system, comprising a housingdisposed with its -lower end substantially ush with a ceiling, said housing having a nipple at its upper end for connection to a supply pipe and formed with a valve seat within the housing, a valve seated thereoma. iiow passage within the housing leading downwardly from said valve seat, a spreader carried at the lower end .of said flow passage by means which is slidable in said passage, aclosure for the lower end'of the housing, a fusible element carried by said closure, means whereby the Valve is opened upon fusing of said element, admitting water to said flow passage, said closure including spring catch means yieldingly retaining said closure on the housing and including an arm engaging the-spreader and yieldingly upholding it, whereby the pressure of the water against the spreader releases said catch, disengaging the closure from the housing and permitting the spreader to descend to a position below the plane of the ceiling', and means to arrest the spreader at a predetermined position.

11. A sprinkler head for a re extinguishing system, comprising a housing position vwith its lower end substantially flush withra ceiling-a fjlow passage within said housing, anormally closed valve controlling said passage, means including a fusible element and operableupon fusingv olfv said element to open the Va1vea closure releas-v ably secured to the lower end Yof the housing and supporting said fusible element in an exposed position below the plane of theceiling, saidcl sure serving to uphold the spreader adjacent the lower end of said flow passage, whereby the force of the water admitted to the fiowpassage upon; opening of said valve acts againstl the spreader, separating said closure from the vnousing and allowing the spreader to descendto operative position below the plane of. theceil-` ing.

12. A sprinkler head fora iire extinguishirlg,

system, comprising a housing positioned Awith its lowerend substantially flush with a ceiling', a fiat annular shield secured to thelower end of the housing and overlapping the ceiling adjacent the,

housing, a iiow passage within said housingha normally closed Valve controlling saidwpassage, means including a fusible element and operable upon fusing of said element tovopen thevalva.

a spreader disposed normally within the housing, and holding means independent of said vfusible element retaining said spreaderl within the housing but releasable by the force of( water admitted to the flow passage upon opening of `said valve,

to allow the spreader to descend to its operative position below the plane of theceilingl EMIL TYDEN. 

